Bold Packers prediction for 2026 NFL season could signal the end of the Matt LaFleur era

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Bold Packers prediction for 2026 NFL season could signal the end of the Matt LaFleur era originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Green Bay Packers are set to take the field for training camp in three weeks, and the stakes have never been higher for head coach Matt LaFleur.

LaFleur has coached the Packers since 2019, and though the team has had a ton of regular-season success under him, they've also come up short in the postseason far too many times.

Green Bay's latest playoff loss came to the Chicago Bears, as LaFleur's squad blew a 21-3 halftime lead on the road and fell in the wild-card round to their oldest rival.

Though LaFleur signed a multi-year extension to remain with the Packers at the end of January, the 46-year-old's job shouldn't be fully secure, especially if this 2026 season prediction for Green Bay comes to fruition.

Packers predicted to finish last in NFC North in 2026​

Bleacher Report's Moe Moton predicted every team that will finish last in their division this season, and his choice for the NFC North was the Packers.

"Without Parsons to mask coverage issues in the secondary, the Packers could be off to a slow start this year. If the Minnesota Vikings offense looks sharp with quarterback Kyler Murray, Green Bay could be in an uphill climb to stay out of the NFC North basement," Moton wrote.

All four teams in the NFC North are pretty close to each other when it comes to coaching and roster talent, so anything can happen in the division.

With Green Bay having major questions in the secondary, and the pass rush being pretty lackluster outside of Micah Parsons, who's still working back from a torn ACL and won't be ready for Week 1, the Packers' defense could stumble a bit in 2026.

The offense has the potential to be dynamic, but it's unclear whether Christian Watson can be relied on to be a No. 1 receiver, and the rushing attack will have to step up if the passing game doesn't live up to expectations.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that the Packers take a step back in 2026 and finish last in a competitive NFC North. However, if that scenario unfolds, it could lead to Green Bay making a tough decision on LaFleur's future.

LaFleur is a solid coach, but is he good enough to win a Super Bowl for the Packers? His postseason history says he isn't, and if Green Bay misses the playoffs entirely this year, it may be time for the Packers to try something new.

Continue reading...